“From the way you’re eyeing those photos, maybe you should consider bidding on your own bachelor.”
Smiling, Rachel glanced up from the glossy images all spread out across the farm-style kitchen table to look at Alexis. Each picture featured a single man in Royal who had agreed to step up to the plate and be auctioned for a good cause. All funds would go toward the Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation, but each woman writing the check would be winning a fantasy date with one hunky bachelor.
Rachel and Alexis were still searching for someone who could be the “big draw” or headliner.
“I think I’ll just stick to the marketing and working behind the scenes and not worry so much about getting my fantasy date.” Rachel blew out a breath and flattened her palms on the spread of photos. She did some quick figures in her head of what she could donate and still live off of until she completed her degree and got a paying job. “Don’t worry, I’ll still write a check for the cause. There are so many great guys who agreed to help... I’m just not sure which one we should use as the main event.”
Alexis dropped to a chair next to Rachel and started sliding the images around. She picked up one, then set it aside, picked up another, dismissed it, too. There were so many options, from doctors to lawyers, ranchers to pilots. Royal had quite the variety of upstanding men. How were all of these hotties still single?
“The problem is these guys are all fabulous,” Alexis stated, her blue eyes searching all of the options. “You can’t go wrong with any of them. We do need the final man to be someone spectacular, someone the ladies won’t mind writing an exorbitant amount for.”
A small white paper with handwritten notes was paper clipped to the top right corner of each picture. The brief stats gave basic details of the bachelor: name, age, occupation. The overwhelming response from handsome, eligible men to help with the charity auction was remarkable. The Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation would no doubt get a fat check afterward.
Gus and Alexis had done all the grunt work lining up the bachelors and it was Rachel’s job to make sure word got out and women flocked with full purses to the biggest event of the year.
“We need to get these framed,” Rachel murmured, thinking aloud. “They need to be propped on easels and in sturdy wood frames to showcase all this glorious masculinity.”
They’d have to strategically set them around the outdoor garden area at the Texas Cattleman’s Club so the women could come early and get an idea of who they wanted to bid on. Once Rachel went to the site, she could better plan all the details of how to arrange things.
She had already made a mock-up of the programs that would be handed out at the door. The program featured the bachelors with their regular posed image, plus she’d requested something playful or something to show their true personality.
“I have a spreadsheet of the order I think they should go in,” Rachel stated. “Sorry, I know that’s not quite marketing, but I was up late last night and started thinking of the best way to advertise and then I started numbering them and—”
“I get it. Your OCD kicked in and you ran with it.” Alexis reached for her girlfriend’s hand and squeezed. “I’ll take any help I can get, and having you stay here is just like being in college. Well, with a child and less parties, but I love having you at the ranch.”
Rachel loved being here, as well. She had been feeling adrift, but when Alexis had invited her to Royal, she figured this was just the break from life she needed. Who knew? Maybe Royal would become home. The big-city feel with the small-town attitude of everyone helping each other was rather nice.
Plus, there was the bonus of her best friend living here. Ellie seemed to have taken to Alexis and Gus.
“Lone Wolf Ranch is gorgeous,” Rachel said, beaming. “I’m still excited you asked me to help with this auction. I think it’s going to pull in more money than you ever thought possible.”
Alexis pulled her hand away and blew out a sigh. “I don’t know. I’ve set a pretty large goal. This fund-raiser means more to me than just money. I want to honor my grandmother’s memory and make my grandfather proud of me at the same time. They did so much for me growing up.”
Rachel knew this was so much more than a show or a popularity contest. Alexis lost her grandmother to pancreatic cancer and all of the funds from The Great Royal Bachelor Auction would go straight to the foundation in loving memory of Sarah Slade.
“She would definitely be proud of you,” Rachel stated. “You’re doing great work.”
“I think you’re doing most of it. I’d seriously be overwhelmed without you.”
Rachel pulled all of the photos into a stack and neatened them up with a tap onto the table. “I’d say we make a great team.”
The back door opened and Alexis’s grandfather, Gus Slade, stepped inside. He swiped the back of his arm across his forehead and blew out a whistle.
“An old man could get used to walking in his back door and seeing two beautiful ladies.”
Rachel flashed him a grin. If Gus was about thirty years younger, she’d make him the headliner for the auction. The elderly widower was quite the charmer and his dashing good looks and ruggedness would make him a surefire hit. No woman could resist his thick silver hair and broad shoulders. The weathered, tanned skin and wrinkles around his blue eyes only added to his masculine appeal. Why couldn’t women age as gracefully?
“Where is the youngest lady?” Gus asked as he headed to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.
“Ellie needed a nap,” Rachel replied. “She was rather cranky.”
“She’s a sweetheart,” Gus defended. “I get a little cranky when I need a nap, too.”
Rachel’s heart swelled at how easily Alexis and her grandfather just took in two stray guests as if they were all one big happy family. Rachel had only been in Royal a short time, but she already felt like this was home. She hadn’t really had a sense of belonging since Billy’s death. Staying in Dallas in their home hadn’t felt right. Especially considering the house they’d lived in had been purchased without her approval. He’d surprised her with it and she’d never really liked the vast space. The two-story home had seemed too staid, too cold.
She’d sold that house not too long ago and moved to a small rental house, much to the shock of Billy’s family. Speaking of, life had been even more stressful with her in-laws hovering and making it a point to let her know they’d be willing to keep Ellie for a while so Rachel could finish her degree.
Then Billy’s brother and his wife offered to take Ellie to make Rachel’s life “easier.” What the hell? She didn’t care about easy. She cared about her child and providing a stable future.
Ellie was the only family she had and Rachel wasn’t going to be separated from her for any amount of time. She’d give up her degree first. Ellie was her world...a world Rachel hadn’t even known she’d wanted until the time came.
Billy hadn’t wanted children and they’d both been taken by surprise when Rachel had gotten pregnant. Rachel had slid into the idea of motherhood
